Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Blues and silly hats!

Over the past few days I've had an attack of the blues in more ways than one - hence the lack of posts this week.

Work is driving me mad and really getting me down at present - I was under the misguided impression that, after the year end, things would become easier to understand. They are, but only marginally, and I still feel like I'm perpetually wading through treacle. I'm not going to bore you with the details but the longer I work there the less I like this feeling of rudderless, minimal, snailpace progress. The only redeeming feature is that most of the people I work with are lovely but the Head drives me nuts!!! The job suits me because of the term time hours but to be truthful unless I start feeling like I know what I'm doing I will only stick it for as long as it suits me until the youngest are old enough to not need me all through the school holidays.

Because of this I've been feeling pretty blue and stitching has not been high on the agenda. But I shall stop whinging now and talk about something a bit more positive.

I have been able to spend a little time in the evenings doing some blue-work.

You might recall Finn showing us a lovely book from the thirties about children and drawing.

One of the pages she showed us had a pair of Dutch children (sorry can't seem to get a link on this - you'll have to scroll back to June 3rd)

I fell in love with this and asked her permission to reproduce them in stitchery. She very kindly scanned them and emailed me a larger more workable version

Here it is.....

Thank you Finn - you're a sweetheart :o)

I have two pieces of fabric I bought at a patchwork shop on a visit to Amsterdam about 3 years ago. One has a white background and the other mid blue. They feature little pictures of Dutch children, windmills and tulips and I've never found the ideal project to use them in - they're just too nice to get swallowed up with the general blues.

Anyway this is the perfect opportunity to use them with the stitchery children to make a 'delft' style wallhanging.

Once I've persuaded DH to locate them in the loft I'll post a photo and then all I have to do is decide how to use them all together.

Still on the subject of 'blue' - you might remember me writing about the death of Cicely , the lady who founded our quilt group in October last year.

Her friend Anne has been going through her UFO's and came across a sweet little blue crib quilt top which she brought to the group the other week to see if anyone would like to finish it and donate it to a charity.

I offered to complete it and donate it to the local womens' refuge - I'm sure they occasionally get ladies with babies and this will be just the ticket. A quick all over large meander and some shirting stripe for the binding had it finished in a jiffy before tea this afternoon. It will be great to see it going to a good home.

And on a brighter note it's the season of silly hats again - Royal Ascot

Why would anyone want to walk around with a bright red petrol pump on their head??????? If there are any other ridiculous creations I'll share them with you as the week progresses.

19 comments:

sorry to hear that you are BLUE! although it is my favorite color. I love the blue work going on! you do such beautiful handwork.. if it is any consolation, work on this side of the pond is just as mucky. misery loves company!! hope things pick up soon.

Commiserations on the job front, mine's a bit rubbish at the moment too. If you're unhappy at work it does tend to sap the creativity out of you. At least you've got the summer holidays to look forward to. The little Dutch stitcheries are great, I love blue and white.

Anne - I can sympathise. I am sure the horrible weather has got something to do with it as well. I've been in the doldrums for what semes like weeks. Do you get the full summer break. It sounds to me that you need a long time away from the work PC.

Do you remember the chocolate that was in the shape of small tiles with lovely blue and white Dutch designed wrapping. I am sure in the odd box there used to be a proper small tile. We are talking probably an inch by an inch square. Must ask Mum if she can remember them.

Sorry to hear you've got the blues !! Lifes been throwing some boobies at me too lately..I think it's only my sewing keeping me sane. Your little stitcheries are lovely. I am so tempted to find some simple patterns and have a go ! So much for not starting anything new !! I am also itching to make some star blocks like yours too.

That is quite possibly the stupidest Ascot hat I've ever seen. Back in the days when I worked :) I used to see people coming back from Royal Ascot on the train from Waterloo - but the hats were never quite as remarkable as that...

Hi, Anne, love love the Dutch children. I'll have to google those. I don't know how those two people could possibly be carrying on a rational conversation as they appear to be doing with all of that Big Red Hat stuff going on :-). Have you (or your husband) found the blue Delft fabric yet??